FEC Frees McCain from Primary Public Financing

John McCain caught a break today after the Federal Election Commission voted unanimously to let his campaign out of the public financing system for the primary contest. Months ago the Democratic National Committee accused McCain of using the possibility of the funds to secure a bank loan and then illegally withdrawing from the system after his campaign’s finances improved. At that time the FEC didn’t have a full quorum to take any official action on the issue, but the commission has been back to full capacity since the end of June (and taking up this issue was at the top of its to-do list). The DNC had asked the FEC not to vote on the matter this week without an investigation, according to Politico. McCain has opted into the public financing system for the general election and stands to collect $84 million in taxpayer money once he is formally nominated as the Republicans’ presidential candidate.

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